Ohio Criminal Record Relief: Certificate of Qualification for Housing (CQH)

Ohio law contains hundreds of legal restrictions that make it challenging for people with criminal records to obtain housing. These challenges not only make it difficult for justice-impacted people to stabilize themselves upon re-entry but also their families and children. The Ohio Legislature recognized these challenges and understood the need for a mechanism to help justice-impacted people obtain safe, stable housing and ultimately reduce the risk of recidivism. As such, a new legal relief tool was created and called the certificate of qualification for housing (CQH) through R.C. 2953.26 and 2961.25, which came into effect on September 20, 2024. This presentation will illustrate the housing barriers that Ohioans with criminal records face upon reentry, highlight the benefits of a CQH for tenants/homeowners and housing providers, clarify the barriers that still exist with a CQH, and explain the two statutory pathways to apply for a CQH.